BETHLEHEM -- Just when it looked as though Eun-Hee Ji was going to go the way of Paula Creamer, right down to the errant driver at No. 10, she came back and won the 64th U.S. Women's Open with a finish that looked more like Tiger Woods.

Especially to Candie Kung, who was waiting on the practice putting green for a playoff.

And to Cristie Kerr, who must feel a lot like Pirates closer Matt Capps right about now, wondering what the heck hit her.

All Ji, 23, a Korean with just one LPGA Tour victory, did was birdie three of the final six holes yesterday at the Old Course at Saucon Valley Country Club, including an 18-footer at the final hole to avoid a three-hole playoff with Kung and win her first major championship.

"I didn't even dream about winning this tournament," Ji said. "But, well, you know, I did it. And I think this is going to be one of the most memorable moments in my life."

Trailing by two shots to start the round and by four after four holes, Ji shot a final-round 71 to finish at par-284, despite a double bogey at the 10th hole that dropped her three shots behind Kerr, the 54-hole leader seeking her second U.S. Open title in three years.

But she did it by making birdie putts of 3 feet at No. 13, 45 feet at No. 14 and the 18-footer at the 388-yard finishing hole that ended the suspense and gave her the $585,000 first prize.

Kung, who hasn't won an LPGA Tour event in six years, was standing on the putting green after shooting a final-round 69, waiting for a playoff when she heard the roar from the other side of the red-bricked clubhouse.

"She made some amazing putts coming down the stretch," Kerr said.

"I just wanted to have the mindset to make par," Ji said through an interpreter about the final hole. "I knew the worst possible scenario was a playoff. I just cleared my mind and thought, 'Let's give it a try,' and it just went in."

"Right before hitting the putt, I was nervous to the point where my hands were shaking. But, once again, I told myself to just make sure I saved par."

It was a bitter defeat for Kerr, 31, who opened the tournament with a 69 and was never over par at Saucon Valley until she lipped out a 4-footer to save par at No. 13, her 67th hole. When she three-putted No. 16 from 12 feet, again missing a 4-footer to save par, Kerr fell out of a three-way tie and never recovered, despite having birdie chances -- albeit long ones -- at the final two holes. Her final-round 75 left her at 2-over 286, tied with In-Kyung Kim

"Today wasn't my day," Kerr said. "Nothing went in. Even the good putts I hit didn't go in. And that's kind of tough."

Kung, 27, hasn't won since she posted three victories on the LPGA Tour in 2003, but it appeared as though she might end the drought when she made a 4-foot birdie at the 531-yard 12th, moving her in a tie with Kerr, three shots ahead of Ji.

Kung quietly had been steady for most of the tournament, making only six bogeys in three rounds, fewest in the field. And, after birdies on the first two holes to start the final round, she had made only one bogey through her first 11 holes before her birdie at No. 12. But, after four consecutive pars, Kung hit her tee shot into the left greenside bunker at the 126-yard 17th and, after narrowly holing her bunker shot, missed a 15-footer and made bogey. It was only her eighth bogey of the tournament, but it was a costly one because it dropped her into a tie with Ji.

"I thought it was in," Kung said of her putt. "I hit a great bunker shot there, too. But that tee shot was an error from my end. I knew the wind was coming from the right and I just didn't play enough."

Ji proved to be an unlikely champion, especially after it appeared she played herself out of contention with a double bogey at No. 10, a 242-yard drivable par 4.

Ji, whose full named is pronounced un hee jee, hit her driver in the same greenside bunker that started Creamer on her way to a triple-bogey-7 in the third round and capsized her chances of contending for the title (Creamer finished tied for sixth, four shots back). Ji didn't fare much better, making double bogey after dumping her second shot in another greenside bunker, then leaving her third shot short on the grassy bank. That dropped her three shots from the lead, and, for all intents and purposes, out of contention with eight holes to play.

Or so it appeared.

"In the end, I think that double bogey gave me a chance to calm myself down and was one of the factors in me winning the tournament," Ji said. "I decided to play comfortably and was able to play it out."